- Sometimes, especially in Thai language documents, King Mongkut might also refer to Vajiravudh (Rama VI) , reigning title Phra Mongkut Klao
- Rama IV redirects here. Vajiravudh ( January 1, 1881 &ndash November 25, 1925) ( Rama VI, reigning title Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หั For the fourth book in the Rama series see Rama Revealed
Chaoyuhua (พระจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว). Rendezvous with Rama is a novel by Arthur C Clarke first published in 1972. Rama Revealed ( 1993) is a Science fiction Novel by Arthur C Clarke and Gentry Lee.
| Mongkut Rama IV of Siam |
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| King of Siam | |
 |
|
| Reign | 1 April 1851 – 1 October 1868 |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 October 1804 |
| Died | 1 October 1868 (aged 63) |
| Predecessor | Jessadabodindra |
| Successor | Chulalongkorn |
| Consort | Queen Somanas Vadhanavadi (1851) Queen Debsirindra (1851 onward) |
| Issue | 82 sons and daughters |
| Dynasty | Chakri Dynasty |
| Father | Buddha Loetla Nabhalai |
| Mother | Queen Srisuriyendra |
Mongkut (October 18, 1804 - October 1, 1868) was king of Siam from 1851 to 1868. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Rama III redirects here For the third book in the Rama series see The Garden of Rama Poramin Maha Jessadabodindra, Phra Chulalongkorn ( Rama V) (royal name Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว The Chakri dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era in 1782 following the end of Taksin of Thonburi 's reign when the Posthumously Poramen Maha Isarasundhorn, Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (1767 - 1824 was the second monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam (1809 - 1824 Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Historians have widely regarded him as one of the most remarkable kings of the Chakri Dynasty. The Chakri dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era in 1782 following the end of Taksin of Thonburi 's reign when the For his role in introducing Western science and scientific methodology to Siam, Mongkut is still honored to this day in modern Thailand as the country's "Father of Modern Science and Technology".
Contents |
Early Life
Prince Mongkut was the son of King Rama II and his first wife Queen Srisuriyendra, whose first son died at birth in 1801. Posthumously Poramen Maha Isarasundhorn, Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (1767 - 1824 was the second monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam (1809 - 1824 Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday Prince Mongkut was five years old when his father succeeded to the throne in 1809. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year According to the law of succession, he was the first in line to the throne; but when his father died, his influential half-brother, Nangklao, was strongly supported by the nobility to assume the throne. Rama III redirects here For the third book in the Rama series see The Garden of Rama Poramin Maha Jessadabodindra, Phra Prince Mongkut was put into Buddhist priesthood and traveled to many locations in Thailand, during which time he founded the Thammayut Nikaya reform movement that later became one of the two denominations of Buddhism in Thailand. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Dhammayuttika Nikaya or Thammayut Nikaya (ธรรมยุต (ทำมะยุด นิกาย ធម្មយុត្តិក និកាយ is an order Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school Nearly 95% of Thailand 's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school though Buddhism Prince Mongkut spent the following twenty-seven years searching for Western knowledge; he had studied Latin, English, and astronomy with missionaries and sailors. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study Prince Mongkut would later be noted for his excellent command of English, although it is said that his younger brother, Vice-King Pinklao, could speak even better English. The Chakri dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era in 1782 following the end of Taksin of Thonburi 's reign when the King Pinklao (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว Chaofa Krommakhun Izaret Prince Chudamani (
Reign as king
After his twenty-seven years of pilgrimage, King Mongkut succeeded to the throne in 1851. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year He took the name Phra Chom Klao, although foreigners continued to call him King Mongkut. His awareness of the threat from the British and French imperial powers, led him to many innovative activities. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. He ordered the nobility to wear shirts while attending his court; this was to show that Siam was no longer barbaric from the Western point of view. [1]
Educational contributions
King Mongkut periodically hired foreign instructors to teach his sons and daughters English. Among teachers in the list were a missionary named Dan Beach Bradley, who was credited for introducing Western medicine to the country and printing the first non-government run newspaper; and, on recommendation by Tan Kim Ching in Singapore, an English woman named Anna Leonowens, whose influence was later the subject of great Thai controversy. Dan Beach Bradley, MD ( 18 July 1804 — 23 June 1873) was an American Protestant Missionary Singapore -born Tan Kim Ching (陳金鐘 who lived from 1829 to Feb 1892 was the eldest of Anna Leonowens ( 6 November, 1831 - 19 January, 1915) was a British travel writer educator and social activist known for teaching It is still debated how much this affected the worldview of one of his sons, Prince Chulalongkorn, who succeeded to the throne. Chulalongkorn ( Rama V) (royal name Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
Anna claimed that her conversations with Prince Chulalongkorn about human freedom, and her relating to him the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin, became the inspiration for his abolition of slavery almost 40 years later. Uncle Tom's Cabin; or Life Among the Lowly is an anti- Slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another It should be noted, however, that the slavery system in Siam was very different from that in the United States, where slavery was based on race. Slavery in Thailand was often voluntary and due to economic condition. One could be punished for torturing slaves in Siam and some 'slaves' could buy their freedom.
| “ | "Bishop Pallegoix states that slaves are 'well treated in Siam--as well as servants are in France;' and I, from what I have seen, would be inclined to go even farther, and say, better than servants are treated in England. Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, MEP ( October 24 1805 &ndash June 18 1862) was Vicar apostolic of Eastern Siam. . .
In small families, the slaves are treated like the children of the masters; they are consulted in all matters, and each man feels that as his master is prosperous, so is he. . . ([1857] 1969:193-94). Later scholars rely to a remarkable extent upon the conclusions of Jean Baptiste Pallegoix and Bowring. Bowring and Pallegoix are clearly the implied European observers behind Robert Pendleton's comment that "The slaves were, by and large, not badly off. European observers generally reported that they were better off than freemen servants in Western society" (1962:15). Citing Pallegoix, Bruno Lasker writes that "since they were essential to the support of their owners, they enjoyed a relatively humane treatment" (1950:58). Also citing Pallegoix, Virginia Thompson writes, "Though their condition varied. . . their status was always comparatively easy and generally humane" (1967[1941]:599). Citing Pallegoix and Bowring, R. B. Cruikshank writes, "In any event, most observers suggest that slaves in Siam were very well treated" (1975:320; see also Bacon 1881:296; Bock ([1884] 1986:159; Colquhoun 1885:189, 267; Freeman 1910:100; Garnier 1873:171-72; Graham 1924:237-38; Pallegoix 1854:299; Turpin 1771:87, quoted in Lasker 1950:57; Wales 1965:63; Wilson 1962:96). Not only have scholars argued that slaves were well-treated, but many have argued that the entry into servitude was the voluntary economic decision of the slave. Bowring cites as evidence "the fact that whenever they are emancipated, they always sell themselves again" (1969 [1857]:193). "[2] |
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Leonowens' story would become the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, as well as the Hollywood movies of the same title, which, because of their incorrect historical references and supposedly disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut's character, were for some time banned in Thailand as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté. Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Lèse majesté ( French expression from the Latin Laesa maiestas or Laesae maiestatis (crimen, (crime of injury to the Majesty in English To correct the record, well-known Thai intellectuals Seni and Kukrit Pramoj in 1948 wrote The King of Siam Speaks ISBN 9748298124. Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj ( May 26 1905 July 28 1997) (หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช Maj Gen Mom Rajawongse (MR Kukrit Pramoj ( Thai คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช ( April 20, 1911 - October 9 The Pramoj brothers sent their manuscript to the American politician and diplomat Abbot Low Moffat 1901-1996), who drew on it for his 1961 biography, Mongkut the King of Siam ISBN 0801490693. Moffat donated the Pramoj manuscript to the United States Library of Congress in 1961. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress (Southeast Asian Collection, Asian Division, Library of Congress)
Contrary to the popular belief held by some Westerners, King Mongkut never offered a herd of war elephants to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War for use against the Confederacy. A war elephant is an Elephant trained and guided by humans for combat Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 He did offer to send some domesticated elephants to President James Buchanan, to use as beasts of burden and means of transportation. James Buchanan Jr (April 23 1791 – June 1 1868 was the fifteenth President of the United States (1857–1861 The royal letter, which was written even before the Civil War started, took some time to arrive in Washington DC, and by the time it reached its destination President Buchanan was not in office any longer. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D In his replying letter Lincoln, who succeeded Buchanan as the US President, respectfully declined to accept King Mongkut's proposal, explaining to the King that American steam engines could also be used for the same purposes.
Religion
As a monk and Buddhist scholar, King Mongkut worked to establish the Thammayut Nikaya, an order of Buddhist monks that he believed would conform more closely to the orthodoxy of the Theravada school. The Dhammayuttika Nikaya or Thammayut Nikaya (ธรรมยุต (ทำมะยุด นิกาย ធម្មយុត្តិក និកាយ is an order MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation It was said that the newly-established order was tacitly supported by King Nangklao, despite oppositions to it by conservative congregations, including some princes and noblemen. Later, when King Mongkut himself became King, he would strongly support his sect.
It was during his reign and under his guidance that Siam entered a treaty relationship with the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong Kong, as representative, concluded the trade treaty (later commonly referred to as "the Bowring Treaty") with the Siamese Government in 1855. Sir John Bowring, KCB ( Chinese translated name 寶寧寶靈 or 包令 (17 October 1792 &ndash 23 November 1872 was an English Political economist Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Bowring Treaty is the name given to an agreement signed on April 18 1855 between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam that liberalized foreign trade in Siam The Bowring Treaty later served as a model for a series of trade treaties with many other western countries, and historians often give credit to King Mongkut (and Sir John Bowring) for opening the new era of Siam's international commerce. These treaties, however, were also later considered unequal treaties, and after Siam had been modernized, the Siamese government began negotiations to renounce the Bowring Treaty and other similar treaties in the reign of King Vajiravudh, Rama VI, grandson of King Mongkut, a task that would not succeed until well into the reign of Rama VII, another grandson of his.
Reportedly, King Mongkut once remarked to a Christian missionary friend: "What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish". Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings
Later life and death
One of King Mongkut's last official duties came in 1868, when he invited Sir Harry Ord, the British Governor of Straits Settlements from Singapore, as well as a party of French astronomers and scientists, to watch the total solar eclipse of 18 August[3], which King Mongkut himself had calculated two years earlier, at (in his own words) "East Greenwich longitude 99 degrees 42' and latitude North 11 degrees 39'. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Major-General Sir Harry St George Ord GCMG, CB, RE, was born on 4 August 1819 in North Cray, Kent Singapore A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is wholly or partially obscured " The spot was at Wakor village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, south of Bangkok. Prachuap Khiri Khan ( Thai ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ is one of the central provinces ( changwat) of Thailand. King Mongkut's calculations proved accurate, but during the expedition King Mongkut and Prince Chulalongkorn were infected with malaria. Malaria is a vector -borne Infectious disease caused by Protozoan Parasites It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions including The king died six weeks later in the capital, and was succeeded by his son, who survived the malaria.
Notes
- ^ Accordingly, the Hollywood depiction of the bare-chested Kralahome (prime minister) in Anna and the King of Siam (1946) and Yul Brynner’s shirtless King Mongkut in The King and I (1956) are not only historically inaccurate, but considered by Thais to be offensive to the memory of the reformist monarch.
- ^ kyotoreviewsea.org
- ^ NASA: Solar Eclipses of Historical Interest
References
- Abbot Low Moffat, 'Mongkhut, the King of Siam', Cornell U. P. 1961
- Constance Maralyn Wison, 'State and Society in the Reign of King Mongkut, 1851-1868: Thailand on the Eve of Modernization', Ph. D. thesis, Cornell 1970, University Microfilms.
- B. J. Terwiel, 'A History of Modern Thailand 1767-1942', University of Queensland Press, Australia 1983. This contains some anecdotes not included in the other references.
- Stephen White, 'John Thomson: A Windows to the Orient', University of New Mexico Press, United States. Thomson was a photographer and this book contains his pictures some of which provided the basis for the engravings (sometimes mis-identified) in Anna Leonowens' books. There is reference to Mongkut in the introductory text.
External links
- An image of King Mongkut.
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Mongkut
Chakri Dynasty
Born: 18 October 1804 Died: 1 October 1868 |
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| Preceded by Jessadabodindra |
King of Siam 1851–1868 |
Succeeded by Chulalongkorn |
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